Weekly Magazine | The Power of Your Words
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Dear Friends,
Have you ever said something and instantly regretted it? Or had a friend or coworker made a quick remark that wounded you? If so, you’re not alone.
Words matter. More than that, God values words. Words are something that can help demonstrate the love of Jesus. But they can also be used to tear someone down.
Life can get so busy that maybe we don’t understand why firing off a quick email to a coworker doesn’t get the response you’d hoped, or how sending a text might land differently than you thought. Jesus always slowed down and spoke with purpose, and this week, our authors are helping us see that it’s valuable for us to do the same.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
The Perfect Balance of Talking and Listening | Susan A. Vernick
Has the art of real conversation gotten away from us? Susan Vernick offers six practical, Scripture-rooted tips for becoming a better listener and a more thoughtful speaker, because healthy relationships begin with healthy communication.
Affirming Others | Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni Eareckson Tada writes from her own marriage about the transforming power of words spoken with intention. Encouragement, she reminds us, is not flattery. It's choosing to call out the good you see in someone and watching it take root.
The Power of Words | Jill Briscoe
Jill Briscoe reflects on a lifetime of ministry and arrives at one clear conviction: words only carry real power when they're gathered first in the presence of God. This is an invitation to quiet yourself long enough to let Him fill your mouth.
Also:
The Perfect Balance of Talking and Listening
Tips for the Art of Godly Conversation.
By Susan A. Vernick
Could it be that social media has contributed to conversation narcissism? Have we become so programmed to voice our opinions uninterrupted, without questions or pausing, and without face-to-face contact that we forget the art of conversation? Or are some people just not naturally good listeners?
The Word of God had some wonderful instructions about talking and listening. Listening is a refined art we can nurture and develop, especially when hearing God and His “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12, KJV). Communicating, talking, and listening are also practical, important parts of our daily lives.
We all have had this experience and can even recall someone who always monopolizes the entire conversation. We find ourselves scratching our heads as we listen and listen and listen some more. But, just maybe, a little gentle conversation etiquette is all that is needed to help all of us along the path to listening more and talking less.
So, at the risk of monopolizing this conversation, here are some gentle reminders and tips.
